Newborn infant formulas and feeding methods

Abstract

Disclosed are newborn infant formulas comprising fat, carbohydrate, and from 0.5 to 2.5 g of protein per 100 ml of formula, wherein the formula has a caloric density of from 25 to 50 kcal per 100 ml of formula. Also disclosed are methods of administering the infant formulas to provide newborns with optimal nutrition, to reduce the occurrence or extent of insulin resistance in an individual later in life, to reduce the occurrence or extent of atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease in an individual later in life, or combinations thereof, by feeding newborn infants the newborn infant formula described herein.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to infant formulas and methods for using the formulas in feeding newborn infants. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] There are many different infant nutritional formulas that are commercially available or otherwise known in the infant formula art. These infant formulas comprise a range of nutrients to meet the nutritional needs of the growing infant, and typically include lipids, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins. minerals, and other nutrients helpful for optimal infant growth and development. [0003] Most of these nutritional infant formulas are designed to assimilate or duplicate the composition and function of human milk. It is generally recognized, however, that human milk is preferred over synthetic infant formulas for the feeding of infants. It is also known that human milk provides improved immunological benefits to the breastfed infant, as well as long-term benefits in the area of certain cognitive developments. [0004] It...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention is also directed to a method of providing long-term health benefits in individuals by feeding methods directed to those individuals as newborn infants. These methods include a method of reducing the occurrence or extent of insulin resistance in an individual later in life, said method comprising the administration to an individual as a newborn infant the newborn infant formula of the present invention. These methods also include a method of reducing the occurrence or extent of atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease in an individual later in life, said method comprising the administration to an individual as a newborn infant the newborn infant formula of the present invention.

[0014] The present invention is based upon an observed relationship between feeding and growth rates among newborn infants and certain biochemical markers suggestive of long-term health effects of those infants later in life. In particular, it has been observed that rapid growth rates of newborn infants appear to correlate with certain biochemical markers that are suggestive of an increased potential development of long-term adverse health effects in those infants later in life such as atherosclerosis or coronary artery disease and insulin resistance or non-insulin dependent diabetes. It now appears that a more controlled growth rate of newborn infants may result in long term health benefits. These controlled growth rates are made possible by administration of the infant formulas of the present invention in accordance with the corresponding methods described herein.

Problems solved by technology

We have found from our long term infant studies that rapid early growth, achieved in large part from nutrient enriched feedings from conventional infant formulas, may result in long-term adverse health effects in individuals later in life, particularly with regard to long-term vascular health relevant to the development of atherosclerosis and to the later propensity to insulin resistance and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), while slower growth in newborn infants, achieved in large part from feeding human milk or formula with a modified carbohydrate, fat and protein calorie distribution (e.g., higher protein, lower caloric density), can have a beneficial effect in the form of reduced occurrence of markers of adult morbidity.